SMSTS Online: Should I Take It?

The SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) certificate is the cornerstone qualification for anyone aiming to manage a construction site in the UK. As the industry has fully embraced digital learning, the SMSTS Online has emerged as the preferred, modern route to certification. But how do you know whether or not you should take it? In today’s blog, we’ll be answering that very question, as well as a number of other questions you might have about the course. 

1. What the Course is Designed For

The SMSTS is a five-day intensive training programme designed explicitly for site managers, project managers, contracts managers, and senior personnel who hold strategic responsibility for planning, organising, monitoring, and administering health and safety on construction projects. It moves significantly beyond basic operative awareness. The course’s objective is to teach participants how to implement and manage safety systems compliant with the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It trains individuals who are capable of taking legal and operational responsibility for an entire site, focusing on strategic management and system governance. The certificate is typically a mandatory benchmark for competence at the management level.

2. Understanding the Structure of SMSTS Online

The course maintains the same rigorous structure as its classroom counterpart. It’s delivered via a live, tutor-led virtual classroom. This format requires candidates to attend all five days of live tuition, engage in mandatory group exercises, and actively participate in discussions. The structure ensures that the intensive, interactive nature of the course is preserved. Candidates must treat the virtual commitment with the same seriousness as an in-person class, demanding full focus each day. The online environment changes the location, but not the high standard, complexity of the content, or the duration.

3. Who Should Consider Taking the Course?

The course should be considered by individuals who are:

• Experienced Supervisors or Foremen: Those moving up who already hold an SSSTS certificate and have significant site experience.
• Site Managers & Project Managers: Individuals who need to gain initial certification or renew their certification. 
• Contracts/Commercial Managers: Professionals whose role requires strategic oversight and legal accountability for multiple projects.
• Time-Constrained Professionals: Anyone whose current job demands make travel to a physical training centre impractical or impossible, prioritising efficiency and flexibility.

Crucially, this course is not for beginners. It assumes a working knowledge of construction site operations and managerial context.

4. Key Advantages of SMSTS Online Training

Choosing the digital format offers distinct advantages tailored for the busy professional:

• Unparalleled Flexibility: Train from home, eliminating travel time and geographical constraints.
• Cost Efficiency: Significant savings are realised by avoiding expenses related to fuel, travel, parking, and accommodation. This financial benefit makes the course highly accessible.
• Digital Integration: Utilising digital course materials and online submission platforms makes organisation and documentation of mandatory exercises more seamless than managing physical binders.
• Increased Focus: Training in a familiar, quiet environment often leads to less distraction and better concentration on the dense legal and procedural content, often enhancing knowledge retention.

5. What Skills You’ll Learn During the Programme

The programme equips managers with strategic and procedural skills necessary for high-level site governance:

• Legal Compliance Mastery: A mastery of the duties of the Principal Contractor and the intricacies of the CDM Regulations 2015 is essential.
• Strategic Risk Management: The ability to develop, implement, and monitor complex site-wide safety management systems.
• Effective Communication: Skills in delivering site inductions, chairing safety meetings, and enforcing compliance across different trades.
• Accident Prevention: The methodology for investigating incidents, identifying root causes, and implementing preventative measures across the project.
• Welfare Management: Understanding and managing occupational health risks, site welfare provision, and environmental compliance.

6. How SMSTS Online Fits Around a Busy Schedule

The digital course is designed to integrate into a demanding professional life by eliminating non-essential time commitments. By attending from home, managers save commuting hours- time that can be reallocated to crucial evening revision or personal time. However, it requires active time management.

7. Is the Online Format Suitable for All Learners?

While the online format is highly flexible, it’s not suitable for everyone. Learners should be proficient in using a computer, possess basic digital literacy, and, most importantly, have the necessary self-discipline to remain focused during long virtual sessions. Candidates who prefer tactile learning, struggle with long periods of screen time, or do not have a quiet, dedicated workspace might benefit more from the traditional classroom environment. The online format rewards self-motivated learners.

8. Why Employers Accept SMSTS Online

The content, learning objectives, minimum guided hours, and assessment method for the online course are identical to the classroom version, which is why employers don’t see any difference. The validity and credibility of the certificate remain paramount, secured by the CITB’s strict accreditation standards and remote assessment protocols.

9. How the Assessments Work

The assessment for the course is rigorous and standardised across all formats. It typically involves:

1. Continuous Assessment: Demonstrated understanding and active participation in group work, case studies, and practical exercises throughout the five days.
2. Mandatory Exercises: Successful completion of all practical exercises, including preparing a formal Risk Assessment and Method Statement.
3. Final Exam: A comprehensive written examination.

10. Support Options Available in SMSTS Online Courses

Accredited providers offer robust support structures to ensure learner success:

• Dedicated Tutor Access: Tutors are available live during sessions for real-time Q&A and clarification on complex legal points, ensuring no question goes unanswered.
• Digital Resources: Access to the latest digital course materials, templates for mandatory exercises (RAMS), and supplementary video content.
• Pre-Course Guidance: Materials and preparatory reading are provided in advance to ensure candidates are ready for the intensive curriculum.

11. Cost Considerations Before Enrolling

When evaluating the cost, factor in not just the course fee, but the significant savings on travel, fuel, and time. Furthermore, registered employers may be eligible for CITB grants to help subsidise the training cost, making the overall investment highly accessible. 

12. How SMSTS Online Compares to Classroom Training

The online course delivers the same Syllabus, Assessment, and Certification as the classroom version. The differences are purely logistical and experiential: the online version requires more self-discipline and digital competence, while the classroom version offers fixed-time, face-to-face interaction and potentially greater networking opportunities. Crucially, both methods lead to the exact same, valid CITB certificate, holding equal weight and recognition across the industry.

13. Technological Requirements You’ll Need

To successfully engage with the course and assessment, you require specific technology:

• Computer/Laptop: A reliable desktop or laptop (tablets are often insufficient for the examination platform).
• Internet: A stable, high-speed internet connection to maintain connection during live video streaming and the mandatory final assessment.
• Peripherals: A functioning webcam (essential for remote invigilation during the exam) and a working microphone/speakers for live participation and communication with the tutor.
• Dedicated Space: A quiet environment free from distractions.

14. The Flexibility of SMSTS Online Delivery

The digital format allows managers to attend the five-day course consecutively (Mon-Fri) or often spread across non-consecutive days or multiple weeks, depending on the provider’s schedule. This ability to tailor the training period to fit around site deadlines and core project phases makes the mandatory five-day commitment manageable for even the busiest professionals.

15. What to Expect on Your First Day

On the first day, you should expect:

1. Technical Check-in: A brief technical check to ensure your audio/video setup is working correctly and that you can access all digital materials.
2. Introduction and Legal Briefing: An immediate, intensive dive into the course structure and the fundamental legal framework (HASAWA 1974 and CDM 2015).
3. Group Work: Early assignment to virtual breakout rooms for initial group exercises and case study discussions, confirming the interactive nature of the course.
4. Material Access: Review and access to the digital course materials and official CITB documentation.

16. Updated Safety Regulations Included in SMSTS Online

The course consistently incorporates the latest safety regulations and legal precedents. This ensures the certificate remains fully relevant. This includes:

• CDM 2015 Updates: Current clarification on the roles of the Client, Principal Designer, and Principal Contractor.
• Occupational Health Focus: Enhanced content on managing workplace stress, mental health, and controlling chronic health risks.
• Temporary Works: Updated guidance relating to the procedural controls of BS 5975 for managing temporary structures.
• Enforcement Updates: Knowledge of recent HSE focus areas and common enforcement actions.

17. Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Common challenges for online learners include:

• Distraction: Loss of focus due to constant email/phone notifications. Overcome this by physically moving to a dedicated, locked office space and disabling non-essential notifications.
• Information Overload: Difficulty absorbing the sheer density of legal and procedural information covered in five days. Overcome this by dedicating evening time to review core legal sections immediately after class.
• Technical Issues: Missing content due to internet failure. Overcome this by having a backup mobile hotspot, and testing your setup before the start of each day.

Conclusion (SMSTS Online: Should I Take It?)

The course is a demanding but highly effective route to gaining the industry’s benchmark qualification. You should take it if you’re an experienced supervisor or manager seeking a flexible, time-efficient path to certification.

If you still have any questions regarding the course, then do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Phone – 020 3488 4472

Email Enquiries@csttraining.co.uk